Highlanders

by Tarah Scott

  “Ladies,” Elise said, “may I present the bride, Phoebe MacGregor, Marchioness of Ashlund.”

  Phoebe sputtered and wheezed as the scotch blazed a scorching path down her wind pipe. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand as she swung her gaze onto the women. Through bleary eyes she saw their attentions’ were firmly fixed on her. She stared back.

  “Rather odd the first time you hear it, isn’t it?” Elise asked, and the women broke into gales of laughter.

  The faces of the women before Phoebe blurred. She sighed and took another gulp of scotch.

  “Phoebe,” Elise said gently, “perhaps you would like to retire for the evening?”

  Phoebe surveyed the crowded room. “What time is it?” she asked even as the clock on the mantle chimed. She grimaced. “By heavens, must they make such racket?”

  “It's nine o’clock,” Elise replied. “Would you like to eat a little something before bed? You haven’t had a thing all evening.”

  “Forgive me, Your Grace,” Phoebe said, “but I have, indeed, had something.” She finished off the contents of her glass. Phoebe didn't miss the look the duchess exchanged with one of the women. “Don't trouble yourself, ma'am,” Phoebe said, “I'm quite capable of holding my liquor. Much to my misfortune,” she added under her breath.

  “Still,” Elise persisted, “let’s have something to eat.”

  “Thank you, but no.”

  “Bed then?” Elise said.

  Phoebe thought for a moment. “Yes, I think that would be a fine idea. Where am I to sleep?”

  “Come along, I’ll show you.”

  There was a moment Phoebe thought she would be ill. The long corridor they traveled seemed to be a maze. She didn't recall such twists and turns in her previous stay at Brahan Seer. At last, they stepped into a brightly lit corridor much wider than the one they had been in and she took a deep breath.

  “Are you all right?” Elise asked.

  Phoebe nodded. Elise gave her an unsure look, but continued down the hallway. She stopped in front of the fourth door, opened it, and stepped back, indicating Phoebe should enter ahead of her. Phoebe stepped inside. A fire burned in the hearth on the far right wall. Four candles burned in the candelabra that sat on a table against the wall in front of her. A canopied bed sat to the left, and on the silk cover lay scattered the petals of various flowers. The nightgown laid out with obvious care on the foot of the bed, however, is what snagged her attention.

  “A bridal chamber,” she muttered.

  Elise whisked past her without a word, yet, Phoebe knew the duchess understood she had forgotten the reason for tonight’s revelries.

  “Shall I have a bath drawn for you?”

  “Good God, no.” Phoebe gasped. “Oh, forgive me, Your Grace, I didn’t—”

  “No bath, it is, then.” Elise turned down the bed. “We're in the south wing, in case you wondered.” She stopped and looked at Phoebe. “Do you plan on standing in the doorway all night?”

  Phoebe looked about her as if suddenly realizing where she was. “No, ma’am, of course not.” She stepped into the room, despite a sudden desire to turn and run. “The, er, south wing, you say?” she said, taking each step as if it were her first.

  “Yes.” Elise fluffed the pillows rather vigorously. “On the third floor.”

  “Ahh,” Phoebe said.

  Once no more fluffing of the bedcovers and pillows was humanly possibly, Elise straightened. “Let me help you out of that dress.” She started toward her.

  “If you don’t mind, Your Grace, I prefer to do it myself.”

  Elise stopped. “I can have someone sent up."

  Phoebe shook her head. “Really, I prefer to be alone for a little while.”

  “It's customary for someone to sit with the bride, you know.”

  “I know. I appreciate your concern, but really, I am best left to myself now.”

  Elise nodded. “If Kiernan remains below, I'll check on you a little later.”

  Phoebe grabbed her arm as she passed. “I beg you, Elise, don't hurry him.”

  Elise patted the hand that gripped her. “Perhaps a little sleep will do you good.”

  “Indeed.”

  Elise went to the door, but paused in the doorway. “If you need anything…”

  “I promise to call for you.”

  Elise closed the door behind her with a soft click.

  Phoebe turned to the sideboard beneath the window, centering her attention on the decanter there. “I believe I have all I need.”

  Kiernan opened the door to the bridal chamber. Phoebe wasn't sleeping as she should have been, given the wee hours of the morning. Though, upon first glance, one might have thought she slept, he knew she only lounged. It wasn’t the fact she was still fully dressed that gave away her state, or that only the blonde lock that had come free earlier was the only hair out of place, but more the way she sat on the bed, head back against the pillows propped up behind her. A crystal tumbler sat listed slightly in her lap, yet, her grip on the glass clearly held the object in check. Brandy, by the look of things. Kiernan smiled, the decanter, only a third full, sat on the table beside the bed, near enough to reach without inconveniencing the drinker from her leisure.

  “Where are your merry wishers?” Phoebe asked, a slight slur in the word ‘wishers.’

  Kiernan stepped inside and closed the door. “Thank you for reminding me.” He bolted the door. “The moment they realize my absence, they'll be upon us.”

  Phoebe lifted her head from the pillow and finished her drink with a quick flourish of her hand and a backward jerk of her head. She laid her head back again and, eyes closed, groped with her right hand for the decanter. Finding it, she brought it onto her lap and poured a fair amount of liquid into the tumbler. When trying to place the decanter back on the table, however, she missed, and was forced to open her eyes to keep from dropping it on the floor.

  Kiernan crossed to the sideboard and got a glass, then went to the bed and sat down beside her. As he poured a drink, Phoebe opened one eye.

  “If you finish that off, Lord Ashlund, I will ask that you fetch another decanter.”

  He placed the nearly empty decanter back on the night stand. “What are we drinking to?”

  “You won’t like it.”

  “Don't tell me you are wishing for my demise already.”

  Her eyes shot open. “Fool,” she muttered. “Adam.” The single word was clear, but her hand shook slightly as she downed another swig of her drink.

  “Ah, yes.” Kiernan raised his glass. “To Adam.” He saluted and finished his drink in one swallow.

  Phoebe lay back, once again, as though dozing.

  Kiernan glanced at the decanter, then at her glass. “You’ve been up here for some time,” he commented.

  “This is where the bride is supposed to be.”

  Kiernan sat his glass on the table. “His death isn’t your fault, Phoebe.”

  Her eyes opened and she regarded him. “You don’t know that.”

  “You didn’t shoot him.”

  “Ohh,” she said, jerking her hand. Brandy sloshed over the rim of her glass onto her hand. “Now, see what you’ve done.” Phoebe transferred her glass to the other hand, then sucked the brandy from her fingers.

  “We have more brandy,” he said. “You needn’t worry about a few spilt drops.”

  “I’ll worry about anything I please,” she retorted.

  “So I see.”

  Phoebe halted the sucking and regarded him. “You think I'm foolish for caring about—about—” She stopped, her eyes widening.

  “Adam,” Kiernan prodded gently.

  Tears abruptly filled her eyes.

  “Phoebe.” Kiernan scooted closer to her.

  “Oh, go away,” she blubbered.

  She shoved at him, tipping over the glass on her lap and spilling brandy on her dress. He rose and Phoebe swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She attempted to brush the liquid from her dress while
he hurried to the armoire and returned with several handkerchiefs. He tried dabbing at the liquid but she pushed his hand aside.

  “It's too late for that.” Phoebe stood. She swayed, and Kiernan gripped her elbow to steady her. She shook him off. “I'm all right.” But in two steps, she fell straight to her backside.

  He pulled her to her feet, then scooped her into his arms. “If you're going to drink, my dear, I suggest you stay in bed.”

  “Oh, you’d like that.” She hiccupped. “Wouldn’t you?”

  Kiernan laid her on the bed, then sat beside her and rolled her onto her side. He began unbuttoning the row of buttons that went down the back of the dress.

  “What are you doing?” she demanded.

  “Getting you ready for bed. I’m surprised Elise didn’t help you.”

  “Told her not to,” Phoebe replied in the voice of a petulant child. “And I don’t want your help either.”

  “You’re going to have a devil of a headache in the morning. Sleeping in this tight gown won't help your mood.”

  “My mood is fine.”

  “Indeed.” Kiernan finished the last button and turned her onto her back. He brought her to a sitting position and began pulling the long sleeves from off her arms.

  “I ought to shoot you for this,” she mumbled, then more tears appeared. “I told Adam he made me wish I had shot him. Oh, but men are abom-abommmniible.”

  Kiernan halted in tugging off the second sleeve and looked at her. “Why didn’t you simply marry him, Phoebe?”

  “Abomb-abomnbe—”she frowned ferociously as if it were his fault she couldn’t speak. “Abob-abib—Oh! Horrid! That’s what you all are.”

  He pulled the sleeve off, then, standing, stripped the dress from her. She shivered in the chemise. Kiernan tossed the dress onto a nearby chair, then gently pushed her back onto the mattress and sat beside her. He ignored her breasts, straining against her chemise, the nipples dark beneath the fabric, and reached behind her. Kiernan brought her to a sitting position, hugging her to his chest as he attempted to free the covers she sat on.

  “I’m not in the mood for this.” She jammed her hands between them and pressed her palms against his chest.

  He continued to struggle the blanket beneath. “I would suggest, then, keeping your hands to yourself.”

  She gave a halfhearted swipe to his chin. “Self-defense,” she mumbled into his neck.

  “God help me.” He slipped a hand beneath her buttocks and lifted her enough to free the covers.

  Phoebe batted at his arm. “I’m not interested in your attentions tonight.”

  “My dear,” he said, laying her back onto crisp linen sheets, “as much as I might like to, I am not in the habit of taking advantage of women who are deep in their cups, even if the woman is my wife.”

  Phoebe’s eyes popped open. “Wife,” she said as her hand went to her mouth and she belched.

  “Phoebe,” Kiernan said sharply.

  “Oh dear,” she said through another belch.

  Kiernan whirled and, spying the object he was searching for sitting near the nightstand, scooped it up and faced Phoebe.

  “By heavens,” she cried, “not the chamber pot again.”

  He dropped to his knees, hoisted her into a sitting position and shoved the pot under her nose.

  Phoebe shook her head. “Out of the way, Ashlund.”

  Kiernan started to argue, but she scooted to the edge of the bed and shoved to her feet. She dropped to her knees and it was clear her stomach would not be put off any longer. Kiernan once again shoved the chamber pot in front of her. She grasped its edges and vomited.

  Laughter abruptly echoed in the hallway outside the door.

  “Damnation,” Kiernan cursed as the laughter grew louder. The entire male population of Brahan Seer had decided to congregate outside their room.

  Phoebe retched again.

  A loud pounding sounded at the door. “Bhalgaire!” said John, a man from the village. “Ye canna’ escape us.” Shouts of agreement went up and more pounding followed. “You may be anxious to see the lassie, but you won't get off so easily.”

  “Too late, lads,” Kiernan called.

  More laughter. “It’s never too late,” another voice answered in between Phoebe’s gasps. “Now open the door. We won't look.” At this, raucous guffaws abounded and were mingled with more bawdy comments.

  Phoebe leaned over, her head nearly touching the chamber pot. Kiernan placed a hand on her head to steady her. She pushed him away, but ceased such efforts in favor of once again gripping the chamber pot and heaving into it. The noise outside the room abruptly stopped.

  “What in God’s name are you doing to her?” came the calm voice of his childhood friend David.

  “Go on, now, lads,” Kiernan urged. “You’ve done enough damage for one night.”

  There was a pause, then, David said, “Sounds to us as if it is you who have done the damage. What’s wrong?”

  Kiernan looked down at Phoebe who, though breathing heavily, had ceased retching. “Nothing,” he called.

  “There are fifteen of us, at least. We can easily break the door.”

  Kiernan sighed. “Will you be all right, Phoebe?”

  She shot him a sidelong glance that could only mean she might be all right, but his future good health was uncertain. He rose and went to the door. He unbolted the door, then quickly stepped outside.

  Kiernan caught sight of his father at the back of the crowd before saying, “Enough, lads, she’s simply celebrated a little too vigorously.”

  The men’s eyes widened and somewhere in the middle of the group someone said, “You don't mean she—”

  “Drunk as a skunk?” put in another.

  Kiernan didn't miss the twitch at the corner of his father's mouth and was certain the duke was thinking that this was merely the first of many ways in which Phoebe would repay Kiernan for waylaying her coach.

  “Never saw a woman who could hold her liquor,” said David.

  “Don’t be too sure about that,” Kiernan said. “From what I saw, she drank quite a bit before retiring, and the decanter of brandy in the bedchamber was nearly empty when I arrived.”

  John frowned. “Not natural for a woman to drink so much.”

  “Well,” Kiernan said, clearing his throat, “Phoebe is a rather unusual woman. Now, if you will excuse me."

  For a moment it seemed the men might proceed with the wedding night tradition of forcing their way into the bridal chambers but his father said, "Come along, lads. There's plenty more scotch downstairs for us."

  One by one, they turned away. Kiernan backed into the room, keeping a wary eye on them until he had the door closed and bolted again. He turned back to Phoebe. She had crawled back into bed and lay curled up on her side, this time, sleeping quite soundly.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  A heavy weight over Phoebe’s shoulder pinned her to the bed in the darkness. The mass of heat that molded to the curve of her back pressed closer. She stirred and the weight on her shoulder slipped beneath her arm and wrapped itself around her waist. Vague images of people laughing, food, drink, and a dark face, floated through her mind. She concentrated, trying to comprehend their meaning when the unmistakable hard length of a man pressing against her buttocks registered in her brain. The warmth around her waist crept upward and closed with a gentle caress around a breast.

  Phoebe gave a small cry of surprise.

  “Shh, sweetheart,” came a soft male voice in her ear. “It's me.”

  He kissed her ear and warmth rippled through her. He rocked gently against her and her body gave an answering throb that so startled her, it was a moment before she realized his hand was sliding downward. Phoebe wriggled in his grasp. His hand cupped the feminine part of her through her chemise.

  He sighed and began inching up the fabric. The material brushed lightly over the stiff curls of her woman’s mound. She was aware the instant the linen exposed her, for his fingers caressed her.
He probed, parting the folds with a careful touch until, at last, he slipped a finger inside her wet channel.

  Phoebe gripped the sheets as he moved his finger in and out. She was only beginning to adjusting to the sensation when she felt a flick to the sensitive nub that now throbbed with every tiny thrust me made.

  “By heavens,” she whispered. “This is something new.”

  He chuckled in her ear. “But the beginning of many firsts, my dear.”

  Her mind swirled with vague possibilities, all ending with the same exquisite pressure she now experienced. He stopped abruptly, and Phoebe felt as though she teetered on a precipice she longed to jump into. He rolled her onto her back and came down on top of her. His weight pressed her into the bed. The memory of Brandon crushing her beneath him in much the same way flashed before her, but was banished immediately by a rough kiss to her mouth.

  Kiernan released her mouth and nipped at her ear. “Only you and I in the wedding bed,” he whispered.

  Phoebe gasped. Had she said Brandon’s name aloud?

  Kiernan's mouth, hard and insistent, slid down her throat, while he moved his shaft in easy motion against her. He grasped her chemise and tried to tug it down her shoulders, but the linen fit snuggly over her breasts. His hands explored her chest, and his fingers gripped the top of the chemise. Even as she felt his muscles tighten she realized his intent.

  Phoebe gasped as he rent the cloth. His mouth closed over a hardened nipple. She sunk her fingers into his hair. The heavy locks slid like satin through her fingers just as she knew they would. Thick and soft like—her breath caught, he must have lifted the cloth of his nightdress, for the velvety hard length of his shaft brushed against her thigh, then probed the nestle of curls. He found quick entrance between her damp folds. A thrill shot through her body, followed by the physical pleasure of his rubbing.

  “Don't wait any longer,” she whispered, and she felt his body tighten in the instant before he surged forward—Phoebe bolted upright, a deep wheezing breath bringing her full awake and blinking into the sunlit room.